SMTP Code 250: Requested Action Completed

Success Low severity Success RFC 5321

What it means

SMTP Code 250 means “Requested Action Completed.” The mail server has successfully accepted your request. This is the primary success response in SMTP, confirming that a command (HELO, MAIL FROM, RCPT TO, or DATA) was completed successfully.

At a glance

Code250

Bounce typeNot a bounce

SeverityLow

CategorySuccess

What to doNone; the delivery step succeeded

StandardRFC 5321

What it looks like in your mail logs

status=sent (250 2.0.0 OK 1718020800 d75a77b69052e-46c1c0a2f9bsi.123 - gsmtp)

What does 250 mean?

SMTP code 250 is the most important success code in email delivery. It confirms that the receiving server has accepted the command. During a typical SMTP transaction, you will see multiple 250 responses: after HELO/EHLO (server identification), MAIL FROM (sender accepted), RCPT TO (recipient accepted), and after DATA (message body accepted and queued for delivery).

The final 250 response after the DATA command is the one that matters most - it means the receiving server has accepted the message and queued it for delivery. Note that 250 after DATA does not guarantee inbox placement; the message may still be filtered to spam or rejected by content filters after acceptance. Providers like Gmail and Microsoft may accept a message with 250 and still place it in the spam folder based on reputation signals.

How 250 plays out

Your server connects and sends a command

The recipient responds 250: the step succeeded

The SMTP conversation continues toward delivery

Common causes of 250

Command executed successfully
Email accepted for delivery (after DATA command)
Recipient address validated and accepted
Server identity (HELO/EHLO) accepted

How to fix 250

No fix needed - this is a success response
If emails are accepted (250) but land in spam, check your sender reputation and authentication
Use Sender Reputation Checker to verify your domain configuration

Frequently asked questions

What does SMTP 250 OK mean?

SMTP 250 OK means the server successfully completed the requested action. It is the most common SMTP success response, issued after each accepted command during an email transaction, typically appearing 4 to 6 times per message. A "250 OK" response to the final DATA command means the receiving server has accepted your email and taken responsibility for delivering it.

Does SMTP 250 mean my email was delivered?

Not exactly. SMTP 250 confirms the receiving mail server accepted your message and queued it for delivery, but it does not guarantee inbox placement. After acceptance, the recipient's server may still route the email to the spam folder based on content filtering, sender reputation, SPF/DKIM/DMARC authentication results, or engagement history. Always monitor deliverability beyond the 250 response.

Why did I get a 250 OK but my email went to spam?

A 250 OK response only means the recipient's mail server accepted your message at the SMTP level. Spam filtering happens after acceptance, based on sender reputation, email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), content quality, and recipient engagement. To fix this, verify your authentication records are properly configured, avoid spam-trigger words, and build positive sender reputation through consistent, engaged sending.

How many times does SMTP 250 appear in one email transaction?

SMTP 250 typically appears 4 to 6 times during a single email transaction. The server returns 250 after each successful command: the EHLO greeting, MAIL FROM (sender), each RCPT TO (recipient), and the final DATA transmission. Each 250 response confirms that specific step was completed successfully before the conversation moves to the next command.

Related bounce codes

Sources & further reading

RFC 5321 · The standard that defines this reply code RFC 3463 section 2 · Enhanced status class 2.X.X (Success) that pairs with the 250 reply

Reviewed by Jennifer Jackson, Email Deliverability Analyst · June 2026 ← All bounce codes